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Look around your office and take a guess at how many people are happy with their full-time job. According to a survey conducted and summarized by CBS Moneywatch, 51 percent of America’s 100 million full-time employees aren’t engaged at work which means a good chunk of the people you work with (or even you) aren’t really engaged in the work you do. But what can you or companies do to help employees reap the happiness others might get from their job? We’ve outlined a few simple ideas to help boost employee happiness, that won’t break the bank when it comes time to sort out the budget.

Use positive messaging:

Whoa innovative right? The words we choose in the workplace can play a huge role in employee happiness whether we realize it or not. Moving forward, consider using positive messaging with co-workers or employees. Become more personal, encouraging, passionate and empowering and see if you can tell a difference in the way people interact with you.

Express gratitude:

We were all taught to say thank you at a young age, but how many of us still keep that tradition alive when it comes to the work place? Even the smallest amount of recognition and thankfulness can go a long way when it comes to saying thank you to your employees.

Listen:

Employees like to feel heard so it’s up to the employer to stay receptive, and encourage feedback. Most employees tend to be happier when they are a part of the decision-making process and that their ideas are valued and respected.

Lead by example:

Practicing healthy habits and maintaining an optimistic attitude can help inspire happy employees. While not every day can be stress free and full of positivity in most cases how you view unpleasant situations that can trickle down to your employee’s perceptions.

Make small upgrades:

These upgrades could be as simple as updating your breakroom or switching to a vending management company that will not only help bring better snack options for your employees; but could also provide services you didn’t know employees would like. The small change could result in a new selection of snacks and refreshments or even an office coffee system for your employees which in turn can boost productivity and happiness.

Encourage healthy work-life balance:

Work and life balance can play a key role in employee happiness. Employee’s need to feel their personal lives are valued just as much as their work life. Consider offering flexible hours, or allow employees to work from home when needed.

Why is employee happiness so important? Besides combating stress, happiness in the workplace can result in fewer aches and pains both physically and mentally. Happy employees also take fewer sick days than their unhappy co-workers and can help boost office morale.

The office vending machine is a way for employees to get an afternoon snack or grab a quick bite to eat without having to leave the office. It can also serve as a way for your company to increase its bottom line. Our vending programs can actually pay you a commission, which is generally based on the vending machine sales.

You’ll save your employees time and money​

What employee doesn’t want the convenience of having a vending machine in their office? With more incentive to stay on site, your staff won’t have to leave in order to get something to eat or drink. This will lead to happier employees and increased productivity. A facility of 75 employees or more will generally support a vending machine at no cost to your company.

Increase productivity

Imagine being able to grab an energy drink or a bottle of water and feeling refreshed enough to finish your work on a timely basis? In most cases having a vending machine on site can help increase productivity and encourage employees to get more work done. This can increase motivation and help keep employees focused on the task at hand.

Fundraisers

Your office could also elect to donate the vending machine commission income to a favorite charity. At the end of the year you can total how much money the company was able to donate and work towards increasing that amount.

Foot traffic

If your office has a lot of external foot traffic from the public, then a vending machine would benefit your visitors, too. By putting your vending machine in a location where others can access it, you’re reaching more people and increasing your commission income.

Vending Management Company

A vending management company specializes in companies with multiple locations, providing a customized vending program for each location. A vending management company, like National Vending, optimizes, collects and remits commission revenue, provides state-of-the-art equipment and technology, handles all service calls and coordinates transition of vending equipment. At National Vending we can be your single point-of-contact for all your vending needs. We can even provide other types of vending and refreshment needs for your company. Looking to add office coffee or a water filtration system? We can help!

Unattended retail is on the rise thanks to changes in retail kiosks, vending machines and improvements in technology. The world of vending machines are taking over. Machines give customers the chance to interact with merchants more quickly, without having to waste time standing in a long line or dealing with slow-moving employees.

Research found by USA Technologies concludes that the interactive kiosk industry market will be worth $1.073 billion in the next decade. What about the growth of the market from previous years? That comes in at a shocking number; the industry has grown from $533.37 million in 2013 to $716.97 million in 2016.

Over the past year more vending options are taking over, but what kind of retail can we expect to see in these new kiosks and vending machines? Everything from luxuries like the beautiful Marla Aaron carbine lock pendants jewelry, to necessities like groceries and medicine to personal care products for the homeless. Not to mention the rise of self-serve options is getting a swift kick into the future with the opening of the new Amazon Go Store. Food and beverage kiosks have become the most common kind of kiosks in the U.S., accounting for a combined 35 percent of machines in the field as of 2016. But the industry has seen an increase in clothing retail and vehicle-charging kiosks as well.

All of these new developments mean we are on the road to a completely different retail experience. Unattended kiosks and markets allow for a speedier shopping experience and can reach more consumers in venues brick and mortar stores simply can’t. With technology advancing, capabilities such as remote machine monitoring, interactive touchscreens, identity verification are becoming more affordable. The growth of this industry can and will expand beyond what is typically sold in vending machines.

Technological advances in vending machines have enabled consumers to purchase vended products using apps, debit and credit cards. We have also seen other advances inside the vending machines. We’ve all made trips to the vending machine to purchase a soda and chips only to have our selection fail to vend after we swipe our credit card. Frustrated, we think the machine charged our card so we make a call to the number on the machine looking for a refund. Or worse, someone shakes the machine in hopes of getting the product to drop, which can cause a lot of damage to the machine. But did you know up-to-date vending machines include a guaranteed vend delivery system?

Each vending machine has an infrared light sensor at the bottom of the machine. Each snack or drink passes through this infrared light as it is dispensed. If the snack or drink doesn’t break the beam of light, it will give the customer credit back to make another selection. This feature makes the customer experience more reliable and minimizes the need to call customer service or request a refund. Not sure if your machine has a guaranteed vend delivery system? Many machines will have a sticker indicating the presence of one; you may also see a message appear after selecting your product. If the machines is equipped with a guaranteed vend delivery system, a message typically pops up encouraging the consumer to make another selection or dispense a refund. Guaranteed vend delivery systems can take care of a problem before it starts. Who needs a frustrated customer?

The New Year is quickly approaching and while personal resolutions are always a great way to start they year fresh, it’s also a great time to consider work resolutions. Below we have a few ideas on how you can start the 2018 work year off on the right foot and achieve those resolutions throughout the year.

Step out of your comfort zone

We know change is scary, and stepping out of your comfort zone is just as frightening for some. But stepping out of your comfort zone doesn’t have to be leaping head first into something you’ve never done before. Maybe it’s as simple as asking a coworker for advice or help on a situation. Or attending an event you typically wouldn’t go to because you might not know anyone there. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be intimidating but as long as you are taking baby steps in the right direction, you’ll find your comfort zone expanding, which will allow for more personal growth.

Listen more than you talk

We all want to contribute to conversations at hand, but in some cases it can muddle the situation when people contribute ideas without thinking them through. Instead, take time to actually listen to what is being said or asked of you and then take time to formulate a response. A good rule of thumb is to wait a few seconds before replying to ensure you don’t interrupt the speaker, which also gives you time to form a thoughtful response. This tip might seem like a basic task but the next time you sit in a meeting, count how many times someone gets interrupted or answers get shouted out.

Learn something new

This resolution can go hand-in-hand with stepping out of your comfort zone but in the end you might pick up a new skill you never knew you had the ability to do. This can be a great way to open new doors in the work place and meet new people. Learning something new could be as simple as taking a class on leadership or attending a seminar in your field of work.

Be more organized

As soon as projects start to pile up, the system for organization can fall by the wayside leading to scrambling to finish projects or even missing deadlines. Setting up an organizational system that works for you can help you in those times when your work load is piling up. Set reminders to help you prioritize what needs to be completed first and take a few minutes each day to assess any new projects that reach your inbox.

Get inspired

No matter how long you have been in your industry, it can be easy to feel uninspired about the work you do. As you move into 2018, think about how you can get inspired about the work you do. Look towards clients who are happy with the work you provide or consider attending a conference in your area to help reignite the excitement for your industry.

Make Goals

Make a list of goals you want to accomplish during the year, whether it’s staying more organized like the resolution above or working harder to meet deadlines. Take the time to write them out, or set reminders in your work calendar.

Talk about your goals

Goals are pointless if nobody knows about them. Tell your boss, your coworkers and have the people around you help hold you accountable for everything you want to achieve. If you get half way through the year and feel like you’re straying away from your goals, do an assessment to see how you can get back on track. If you get to the end of the year and missed a goal, no worries, take time to assess why you might have fallen short or what prevented you from accomplishing that goal and work to make a change for the following year.

Is vending management right for you?

You’ve just been handed the task of finding a new vending service for your company and you don’t know where to begin. A quick Google search leaves you with a few leads, but on top of coordinating the new vending you still have your job responsibilities to complete. More stress has been added to your day!

That’s where National Vending comes in. National Vending is a vending management company that specializes in coordinating all your refreshment needs, from office coffee and vending to micro markets and cafes for companies with multiple regional or national locations. We coordinate a seamless transition at each location, but our services don’t stop there. National Vending serves as the main contact for all customer service calls, provides a detailed account of revenue for each machine and negotiates the terms of your refreshment services program in accordance with your needs. We also work to bring you the latest in vending innovation and energy efficiencies.

Our full service vending management program takes care of everything. Each property has different employee and traffic counts and regional taste preferences, so we tailor a vending and refreshment service program that meets the needs of each facility.

Many businesses such as offices, schools, hospitals and other locations make great spots for our vending machines. We can also consolidate your refreshment services program to include office coffee and filtered water systems. With National Vending you won’t have to worry about screening service providers, coordinating site visits or negotiating an agreement. We provide your staff with more time to do the job they were hired for. You can trust the vending details to us!

Upgrade your work productivity with a new office coffee setup.

We’ve all been there, it’s the early afternoon and you’re slumped over your desk trying to stay focused on the report due by the end of the day. Yet it feels impossible to keep your eyes open, so instead you walk to the nearest pot of coffee only to be disappointed by the selection. The lack of real creamer, coffee options and the two packets of sugar left won’t be enough to turn this nonproductive afternoon around.

Office coffee systems (OCS) have been a key dynamic in the work force but now most employers can’t get by with just a single pot of dark roast for the office. With more people finding an appreciation for specialty blend coffees or espresso drinks throughout the day, it makes sense why coffee systems are getting a reboot in the office. The introduction of the Keurig and single pot brewers has helped diversify coffee selections, especially when it comes to switching up the office coffee.

On average, 22 percent of employees will leave the office for coffee and tea for an average of 14-20 minutes a day. This can lead to a potential loss of productivity of more than $15,000 a year for an office of 50 people. Why not consider keeping your employees in house by upgrading your office coffee system?

How does coffee play into the productivity of your employees?

Coffee is a great way to jumpstart your mornings and help with those afternoon slumps. While caffeine in coffee doesn’t wake you up, it can block the main compound in your brain that makes you sleepy. Roughly 43 percent of workers experienced a positive effect on work productivity when drinking coffee, while 85 percent of employees believe quality coffee and tea can contribute to increased productivity and morale in the office.

When employers take the time to provide quality coffee options in the office, it helps save employees time, money and makes them feel appreciated. There is even a “perfect” time for a coffee break, which is around 2:15 in the afternoon.

Want to upgrade your system?

Looking to add an office coffee system or upgrade your current set up? Great! We at National Vending are able to provide the perfect blend of popular coffee brands, flavored coffees, teas, and condiments through office coffee makers or hot beverage vending machines to keep your office running without the hassle.

Staying healthy at work can be difficult, from morning sweets brought in by a co-worker to long hours sitting at your desk, all these can factor into your long term health without you realizing it. New research is finding out that a sedentary lifestyle can be as detrimental to our health as smoking a pack of cigarettes every day. Here’s how your desk job is killing you slowly.

“Sitting is so incredibly prevalent that we don’t even question how much we’re doing it. And because everyone else is doing it, it doesn’t even occur to us that it’s not ok.” Nilofer Merchant said at TED 2013. An increase in the amount of standing desks entering the workforce is a positive but more can be done. A recent study from Career Builder states that 41 percent of people have gained weight at their jobs and most of that can be attributed to unhealthy snacking. It’s not just about our activity levels on and off the clock but our eating habits as well.

Below are a few statistics on how sitting can be slowing harming your health and how to make minor improvements throughout the work day.

Established in 2002 and certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), National Vending supports the growth of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (MWBE) within the communities we service. But what does it mean to be a WBE?

For National Vending, it means things like supporting entrepreneurial growth and assisting clients in meeting diversity requirements. Statistics show that companies who embrace diversity are more profitable than companies who don’t. MWBE procurement has a direct and positive impact where corporations do business, which builds brand loyalty.

Tier I and II

Companies with supplier diversity programs are also interested in Tier 1 and Tier II supplier classifications. A Tier I supplier has a direct relationship with its client. To qualify under Tier II, a company’s direct supplier, like National Vending, contracts with other MWBEs and reports that spend back to the company.

“The reason diversity works is that on almost every measure, greater racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse workplace teams function more effectively than more homogenous teams. Members from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives avoid “groupthink,” whereas non-diverse teams get mired in it. …In short, the business case for diversity is overwhelming.” [1]

Tax Incentives

The federal government provides tax breaks for companies that utilize minority and women-owned businesses as suppliers. A second tax incentive reduces tax liability to companies that use minority and women-owned businesses that supply labor or services to a project funded with federal or state grants or loans. State tax incentives may be available as well. Find out more at https://goo.gl/zG8rNa.

Candy has become an everyday treat readily accessible everywhere from checkout lines at the grocery store to vending machines at work so we’ve got a few fun facts listed below that you can share with your friends on November 4 for #NationalCandyDay!

The first form of candy to make its way to America was rock candy. As one of the simplest types of candy, it was a luxury only the wealthy could afford. The first American vending machine was introduced in 1888 and dispensed Tutti Fruity Gum, but that wasn’t even the beginning of America’s love affair with candy.

Chocolate started in 1847 in Britain when Joseph Fry and his son mixed cocoa powder and sugar to make a candy bar. After the idea traveled across the ocean in 1875, Henry Nestle decided to add milk to the concoction, making the chocolate taste less bitter. From there Milton Hershey had his eyes on chocolate-making machines he found at the Chicago World’s Fair. After already making caramel, he couldn’t resist the opportunity and one year later, the world got the first chocolate bar from Hershey.

After that, chocolate bars took off as a special treat! Starting with the Clark bar in 1916, Oh Henry! Bar in 1920, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1922, and Baby Ruth and Milky Way in 1923. With more and more chocolate delights being added to the industry, it makes sense why the United States consumes roughly $18.27 billion dollars’ worth a year.

We’ve got even more fun candy facts listed below! Be sure to tell us your favorite candy by leaving a comment or reach out to us on our Twitter and Facebook.